The greatest supervillain in Buffalo sports history is, undoubtedly, Tom Brady.
Brady finally left us alone three years ago when he left the New England Patriots to go to Tampa Bay and join the Buccaneers.
According to one report, Brady nearly just returned to our lives in the AFC East this season, and still may return next season. How are we not talking about this more?
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Ben Volin of the Boston Globe detailed a report last Friday that Brady's plan, which was very close to being executed, was to essentially fake retire from the Buccaneers, join the Dolphins as a high-level executive, wait for Tampa Bay to find another quarterback, and then get the Buccaneers to trade his playing rights to Miami.
What stopped that plan from happening? Brian Flores' lawsuit against the NFL that included allegations against the Dolphins.
The Dolphins were, according to Volin, planning to bring in Sean Payton as their head coach to pair with Brady. Hiring a white head coach without taking the Rooney Rule seriously was not something Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was going to get away with, so they scrapped the idea.
If Bill Belichick doesn't accidently text Brian Flores, sparking his lawsuit, chances are Brady is the quarterback of the Dolphins in 2022.
If I were a betting man - and I am - I'd bet on Brady being a member of the Dolphins in 2023.
Should Bills fans be worried about that possibility? No.
Given the Bills are Super Bowl favorites, it's possible we'll be at the parade when Brady goes to Miami. At that point, we won't care about anything else in the world.
It is, however, the biggest floating threat to the Bills in the AFC East. As long as Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, and Zach Wilson are the other AFC East quarterbacks, the Bills should have an easy time winning the division.
Insert Brady into Miami? The Bills would still be favored, but you'd have a legitimate challenger.
Yes, in 2023, Brady will be going into his age-46 season. In theory, should you be worried about a 46-year-old quarterback? No.
You should, though, respect the challenge of a 46-year-old quarterback that threw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his age-44 season.
I will believe Brady can't play, and play at an elite level, 10 years after he's six-feet under.
One sign of a quarterback being shot is arm strength and how often they throw deep. Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers all became "Captain Check-down" at the end of their careers.
In 2021, Brady was No. 1 in the NFL in deep ball attempts and air yards. The arm strength is undoubtedly still there.
I am already mentally preparing for the idea that an elite version of Brady will be in the Bills' division once again in 2023. Brady will make roughly $10 million in his final year of his contract with Tampa Bay.
That's less money than Seattle Seahawks backup tight end Will Dissly will make this year.
If Brady plays one snap on that contract in 2022, his top priority is to become a free agent and get to Miami in 2023, getting the ownership stake promised to him by Ross.
I'm not saying to be worried about the possibility, but be mentally prepare for the threat, and respect the threat that he still is.
Hey, if we're lucky, the defending Super Bowl champion Buffalo Bills will host Brady and the Dolphins to open the 2023 NFL season in Orchard Park.
